Overview
Regulatory Affairs Advisor – Edinburgh
Closing Date:
17/02/2026
Group:
Strategy and Research Group
Management Level:
Associate
Job Type:
Permanent
Job Description:
Please note that this role will close at 00:01 on Tuesday 17 February, and therefore we advise getting your application in by no later than midnight on Monday 16 February.
About the Team
The Scotland Team represents Ofcom in Scotland and Scotland within Ofcom. We ensure that we keep in touch with the views and opinions of citizens and consumers, the regulated industries and stakeholders more generally in Scotland, and factor these into Ofcom’s wider policy and decision-making. We do this by consulting through regular government, industry and political contact, hosting events to discuss key policy issues, and ensuring that as wide a variety of stakeholders as possible are aware of and engage with our work.
Purpose of the Role
The successful candidate will be Ofcom’s lead contact in Scotland as we deliver our duties under the Online Safety Act. You will develop relationships with the teams across the Online Safety Group and have a clear understanding of its the priority areas of work.
Externally, you will lead the team’s engagement on our Online Safety work with the Scottish Government, Scottish Parliament, industry and wider civic Scotland, using the subject-matter expertise across the Online Safety Group as appropriate.
While this will be the primary focus of the role (c.50%), there will be an opportunity to work across Ofcom’s remit within the team as work priorities evolve, recognising the convergence across our sectors. This includes working across subjects such as broadcasting and wider public service media, digital infrastructure, post and parcel markets and on key annual reports such as Media Nations and Connected Nations.
Your key responsibilities
-
Build and manage relationships with the Online Safety Group within Ofcom to ensure you have a full understanding of the range of work it is undertaking, as summarised in our Online Safety in 2025 report.
-
Ensuring the Online Safety Group (and our Public Policy team) understands the attitudes within Scottish Government, the Scottish Parliament, industry in Scotland and other stakeholder groups to ensure interests of Scottish citizens and consumers are adequately reflected in our policy decisions.
-
Overseeing and coordinating relationships (including of the Chair, Chief Executive and Board member for Scotland) with high profile stakeholders and groups in Scotland to ensure Ofcom’s responsibilities as the Online Safety regulator are fully understood.
-
Leading engagement and shaping our relationships with the Scottish Government, MSPs, industry, Police Scotland and wider civic Scotland.
-
Identifying ways to expand the network of key stakeholders in Scotland and promote the work of Ofcom.
-
Providing direction and shaping policy on regulatory issues in Scotland, particularly as they relate to areas which may lead to specific challenges in Scotland (e.g. our work programme in protecting women and girls online)
-
Provide clear and concise briefings and summaries for senior Ofcom colleagues.
-
Contribute to Ofcom’s governance by working with the Board member for Scotland and providing support to the Advisory Committee for Scotland (including Scotland members of the Content Board and Communications and Consumer Panel), preparing papers, attending and presenting as required.
-
Co-ordinating work on wide range of cross-cutting policy issues as necessary, working closely with expert colleagues across Ofcom, helping develop thinking as required and appropriate.
-
Leading the work on the Ofcom Scotland team’s Parliamentary Bulletin.
-
Providing support to the team’s Senior Associates on issues across Ofcom’s remit as required.
The skills, knowledge and experience you will need for success
-
In your 200-400 word covering note, it is essential that you demonstrate your interest in and understanding of Scottish politics, policy-making or online safety
-
You should be skilled at cutting through to the essentials on complex policy issues.
-
Articulating Ideas: You’ll have excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to get complex information across clearly and concisely.
-
Forming Relationships: You’ll have experience of reaching out to build collaborative relationships with others, including more senior colleagues and external stakeholders.
-
Owning Accountabilities:You’ll have an ability to juggle a diverse workload and respond to changing priorities.
-
You’ll have an appreciation of, and desire to promote, Ofcom’s values of excellence, agility, empowerment, collaboration and respect.
Inclusivity Statement
Ofcom has a clear mission: to make communications work for everyone. To be able to deliver on this, we want our organisation to reflect the diversity of background, experience, upbringing and thought that exists across the UK. We aim to recruit from the widest pool of candidates possible – no matter your social background, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, or disability. We also warmly welcome applicants who are returning to the workforce after a break – for whatever reason. If you have taken time away and are ready to rejoin, we look forward to reviewing your application.
Where positions are listed as full-time, we remain open to reduced hours, part-time arrangements, job shares, and other flexible working options. From day one, we champion flexible work arrangements to accommodate individual needs. You can read more about our Rewards, Benefits and Well-being on our careers page.
Our recruitment processes prioritise accessibility and inclusivity. If you need adjustments, information in an alternative format, or prefer to apply in a different way, please contact us at resourcing@ofcom.org.uk or call 0330 912 1378.
As a Disability Confident Leader, we offer interviews to disabled applicants who meet essential criteria for advertised roles. Learn more about this scheme here. https://careers.ofcom.org.uk/careers/how-we-hire/
IMPORTANT: Before applying for this role, please make sure you have the right to work in the country where the role is based. Unless it clearly stipulates within in the job advert above that the hiring company is looking to or able to sponsor applicants it is deemed that the hiring employer will only consider applications from those able to comply with and work in the country where the role is based.
